XATUBE STUDY IX SCHOOLS. 



31 



THE ROBIN. 



Next to the English sparrow, the most familiar of all our early spring 

 birds is the robin. We call them early spring birds out of courtesy I presume, 

 for although we see items in the newspapers every spring heralding the ad- 

 vent of the " first robin," the truth is, as many girls and boys know, that 

 the robin is a constant resident in Massachusetts. That is, so?ne robins re- 

 main all winter in the state. Of course the greater portion go south, and 

 I have even heard the cheery chirp of the robin on Key West in winter, but 

 the secret of the early coming of the robin, is, let us whisper to the newspaper 

 men, that he has simply left his winter retreat, in some cedar swamp near by, 

 and is out for a spring ramble* 



Fig> 19. 



Head of Robift. 



Now about the nest of the robin ; that is one of the most interesting parts 

 of his history. How does he, or rather she, for the female does most of this 

 part of the work, make such a structure ? First, a platform of leaves, 

 grass, and straw is made. On this is formed a cup-shaped structure of finer 

 grass. Now the robin awaits a wet day, and we have plenty of these in 

 April when the robin is building. Then the female brings mud in her bill, 

 and plasters it all around the inside of the cup-shaped grass structure, press- 

 ing it outward and well into the grass with her breast, turning round and 

 ; round in order that the inside may be properly formed. 



A lining of grass is now furnished, arid the eggs, usually four, as near- 

 ly every country boy and girl knows, are deposited on this comfortable bed. 



It takes the robin about ten days to build the nest. It is allowed to 

 dry three or four days. About five days longer are given to egg laying. 



